Time-stamp



(No Model.)

W. T. WILLIAMS. TIME STAMP.

No. 556,390. I Patented Man 17, 1896. I

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(WITNESSES.- mm TOR ATTOHNEYJ',

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM THOMAS ILLIAMS, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

TIM E-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 556,390, dated March 17, 1896. Application filed August 15, 1895. Serial No. 559,3 721 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM THOMAS WIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Stamps, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to time-stamps, and is adapted to record the time of sending letters by stamping the same on the envelope, and for recording the receipt of letters in a similar manner, and for many other and similar purposes, such as will hereinafter appear.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved time-stamp, and Fig. 2 a partial sectional end elevation.

In the practice of my invention I employa frame, consisting of a face-plate A and posts or supports B, to which may be added, if desired, a bottom plate 0.

The face-plate A is provided with a central opening D, in which is placed a clock E provided with the usual hour and minute hands F and G, respectively, and the face of the clock may also be provided with the usual dial-plate, if desired.

Arranged in a circle on the face-plate A and around the clock are the numerals from 1 to 12, inclusive, designed to indicate the hours of the day, as will be readily understood, and arranged in a second circle inclosing the first are the numerals intended to represent the minutes in an hour, beginning with zero over the numeral which represents 12 in the inner circle and increasing by fives, the second figure being 5, the third 10, the fourth 15, and so on to 55, the arrangement being such that the numeral 5 in the minutecircle is in the same radial line with the numeral 1 in the hour-circle, and the numeral 10 in the minute-circle is in the same radial line with the radial 2 in the hour-circle, and so on throughout the minute-circle.

The numerals in the hour-circle are each printed or formed on the end of a verticallymovable pin or plug H, as shown in Fig. 2,

with an upwardly-directed arm L,which bears on its upper end a type corresponding with the numerals on theplug H, with which the lever is in contact.

The numerals in the minute-circle are also each formed upon the upper end of a similar vertically-movable pin or plug M, each of which is in contact with one arm of a lever N pivotally supported below the face-place, and similar in construction and operation to the lever K, and the inner end of which is provided with an upwardly-directed arm 0, which bears upon its upper end the numeral type similar to that on the pin or plug with which the lever is in contact.

As thus constructed, it will be seen that each of the numerals in the hour-circle is formed on a vertically-movable pin or plug which is in contact with a lever pivotally supported below the face-plate and bearing on its inner end a numeral corresponding therewith, and that each of the numerals in the minute-circle is also similarly arranged and provided, and it will also be observed that each of the pins or plugs H and M is provided below the face-plate with an annular shoulder or flange P, the object of which is to hold the pins or plugs in a predetermined position and to prevent a too great vertical movement thereof, and to prevent also a too great vertieal movement of the levers K and M.

- Below the clock E is supported in any desired manner a type-ribbon R, and the back of the clock E may also be provided with a plate S, if desired, and whenever it is de sired to stamp the time on an envelope or other article it is only necessary to insert the same between the type-ribbon R and the plate S, or the bottom of the clock, as will be readily understood, and then press the pin or plug which represents the hour and the corresponding pin or plug which represents the minutes at which time the envelope or other article is stamped.

When thus operated, it is evident that my improved time-stamp will properly record the desired time at any hour or minute of the day, and it will thus be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention by means of a device simple in construction and operation, and which is perfectly adapted to the purposes for which it is intended.

It is evident also that changes in and modifications of the construction shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations in said construction as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt 1. A time-stamp consisting of a properlysupported plate in the center of which is a clock, provided with the usual hour and minute hands, said plate being also provided with a circular row of twelve vertically-movable pins or plugs, on which are respectively formed the numerals from 1 to 12 inclusive, which correspond with the hours of the day, said plate being also provided with a second row of vertically-movable pins or plugs, inclosing the first, on which are formed the minutes of the hour, the plugs of each of said cir cles being in contact with one arm of a lever pivotally supported below the face-plate, the other arm of which is provided with a type which corresponds with the numerals formed on its respective pin or plug, substantially as shown and described.

2. A time-stamp consisting of a properlysupported plate in the center of which is a clock, provided with the usual hour and minute hands, said plate being also provided with a circular row of twelve vertically-movable pins or plugs, on which are respectively formed the numerals from 1 to 12 inclusive, which correspond with the hours of the day, said plate being also provided with a second row of vertically-movable pins or plugs, inclosing the first, on which are formed the minutes of the hour, the plugs of each of said circles being in contact with one arm of a lever pivotally supported below the face-plate, the other arm of which is provided with a type which corresponds with the numerals formed on its respective pin or plug, and a type-ribbon supported below the lower side of the clock, which is provided with a plate, substantially as shown and described.

3. A time-stamp, consisting of a properlysupported face-plate in the center of which is a clock, provided with the usual hour and minute hands, a circle of twelve verticallymovable pins or plugs arranged in said plate around said clock, on which are formed respectively, the numerals from 1 to 12, inclusive, which correspond with the hours of the day, and a similar circle of pins or plugs inclosing the first, and which are designed to represent the minutes of the hour, the pins or plugs in each circle, being in contact with pivotally-supported levers below the plate and means connected therewith, and with the plate for recording the time, substantially as shown and described.

4. A time-stamp, consisting of a frame or support provided with a face-plate in the center of which is placed a clock provided with the usual hour and minute hands, said plate being also provided with a circle of verticallymovable plugs, which represent the hours of the day, and a second circle of verticallymovable plugs, which represent the minutes of the hour, and a recording device connected with each of said vertically-movable plugs in each of said circles, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a time-stamp, the combination of a frame provided with a face-plate, a clock in the central portion thereof, provided with the usual hour and minute hands, a circle of pivotally-supported levers below said plate adjacent to the clock, and a corresponding circle of pivotally-supported levers inclosing the first and means connected with said levers for recording the time, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this Q-Lth (lay of June, 1895.

\VILLIAM THOMAS \VILLIAMS,

\Vi tnesses:

GEORGE WASHINGTON PET'JASSON, \VILLIAM EDGAR Gnovnn. 

